It does seem that either 1) R/D took less time to get rigged to descend or 2) were speed demons descending.

I know that at least in earlier season they have had fixed times for the rigging and safety briefing. That is when teams arrive the clock start ticking and they may not start ascending until a certain number of minutes have passed. That is so that nobody is tempted to skimp on the safety briefing.

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

When they arrive on the scene it took them about 20 minutes to get geared up. Once the reach the top they appear to change gear for the descent. On the way down they are wearing those pads and things that they don't have on the way up. They may even have to change their harness.

It does seem that either 1) R/D took less time to get rigged to descend or 2) were speed demons descending.

Only 4 minutes to finish the descent and get out of the rigging and leave to equal D/R time.

bcp19,

I think you may have misinterpreted some of the data from Bill Spencer's timeline as sorted out by Texas Lady.

The way I look at it, we know that Rachel and David were both of top by 1147. However, we do not know when they actually started down. There is an indication that they left at 1133.

They arrived 9 minutes before Rachel and Brendon. Rachel and David reached the top at 1101 so they lost about 4 minutes in rigging and ascent. We do not know precisely when Rachel and Brendon finished their descent and were able to leave. What we do know is that it had to be several minutes after 1142 since Rachel was still 3 floors above the ground and she still had to unrig from her harness. This means that Rachel and David did indeed gain a little time on this task vs. Rachel and Brendon.

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

We don't know; but in the picture number 20 Rachel B. seems to be looking at some place. But maybe she was just watching the landscape.

Since we have to do something until tomorrow night, here are some shots with closeups of the clue and something Dave and Brendon are reading, instructions? (Sorry I couldn't get them as clear and large as RachelB's.)

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

We don't know; but in the picture number 20 Rachel B. seems to be looking at some place. But maybe she was just watching the landscape.

If it possible to see Sand Island Beach Park from the face of the tower they were doing the climbing - again, watch Rachel B. in picture 20 -, boston_jen could have hit the bull's eye.

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

We don't know; but in the picture number 20 Rachel B. seems to be looking at some place. But maybe she was just watching the landscape.

If it possible to see Sand Island Beach Park from the face of the tower they were doing the climbing - again, watch Rachel B. in picture 20 -, boston_jen could have hit the bull's eye.

They should not have the sand island park clue until they get to the bottom, so doubtful she is looking for the next area.

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

We don't know; but in the picture number 20 Rachel B. seems to be looking at some place. But maybe she was just watching the landscape.

If it possible to see Sand Island Beach Park from the face of the tower they were doing the climbing - again, watch Rachel B. in picture 20 -, boston_jen could have hit the bull's eye.

They should not have the sand island park clue until they get to the bottom, so doubtful she is looking for the next area.

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

We don't know; but in the picture number 20 Rachel B. seems to be looking at some place. But maybe she was just watching the landscape.

If it possible to see Sand Island Beach Park from the face of the tower they were doing the climbing - again, watch Rachel B. in picture 20 -, boston_jen could have hit the bull's eye.

They should not have the sand island park clue until they get to the bottom, so doubtful she is looking for the next area.

So, you are thinking something like when they go up in a structure and have to look around to find a marker to the next location. I can only think of one thing to refute that, and that is the 4 square press photo showing D/R reading the clue while Dave is taking off the gloves from the rappel. If the teams knew where they were headed from looking around, why stop to read a clue after the decent? Also, using pic 63/64, the only way these pictures could have been taken is if the photographer was facing south and west from the northern tower, this would mean the teams would be ascending the east side of the southern building, and would be unable to see Sand Island until they were on the top. Chances are she was looking at Diamond Head, which would be an awesome view from there.

Let me add my thanks to Bill Spencer for what I think is the best series of photographs an outsider has ever managed to take of a task on TAR, especially a finale.

The time stamps are an outstanding resource for this; while we've had similar time elements from some episodes involving ascent or descent equipment in the past; it's never been this clear cut (even though we know less about Art-JJ than the other two teams.

Let me add my thanks to Bill Spencer for what I think is the best series of photographs an outsider has ever managed to take of a task on TAR, especially a finale.

The time stamps are an outstanding resource for this; while we've had similar time elements from some episodes involving ascent or descent equipment in the past; it's never been this clear cut (even though we know less about Art-JJ than the other two teams.

A schnauzer bark for a job well done by both Bill and TexasLady!

you talk about time stamps on the photos but I don't see any..........could you please explain?

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

We don't know; but in the picture number 20 Rachel B. seems to be looking at some place. But maybe she was just watching the landscape.

If it possible to see Sand Island Beach Park from the face of the tower they were doing the climbing - again, watch Rachel B. in picture 20 -, boston_jen could have hit the bull's eye.

They should not have the sand island park clue until they get to the bottom, so doubtful she is looking for the next area.

So, you are thinking something like when they go up in a structure and have to look around to find a marker to the next location. I can only think of one thing to refute that, and that is the 4 square press photo showing D/R reading the clue while Dave is taking off the gloves from the rappel. If the teams knew where they were headed from looking around, why stop to read a clue after the decent? Also, using pic 63/64, the only way these pictures could have been taken is if the photographer was facing south and west from the northern tower, this would mean the teams would be ascending the east side of the southern building, and would be unable to see Sand Island until they were on the top. Chances are she was looking at Diamond Head, which would be an awesome view from there.

That's why I used the "if" and the "could".So it's probable that, as I said in my reply after boston_jen post "she was just watching the landscape"

Let me add my thanks to Bill Spencer for what I think is the best series of photographs an outsider has ever managed to take of a task on TAR, especially a finale.

The time stamps are an outstanding resource for this; while we've had similar time elements from some episodes involving ascent or descent equipment in the past; it's never been this clear cut (even though we know less about Art-JJ than the other two teams.

A schnauzer bark for a job well done by both Bill and TexasLady!

you talk about time stamps on the photos but I don't see any..........could you please explain?

From the first set of posts from Georgiapeach on the first page of this thread:

Thx Bill , and HOW COOL to be a small part of the race. I hope the race goes through Baltimore or Annapolis next season and the great detectives here at RFF get a heads up before they arrive so I can chase them around all day taking pictures . WOW , that would be sooo exciting. Ya never know , it could happen.

Thx Bill , and HOW COOL to be a small part of the race. I hope the race goes through Baltimore or Annapolis next season and the great detectives here at RFF get a heads up before they arrive so I can chase them around all day taking pictures . WOW , that would be sooo exciting. Ya never know , it could happen.

Thx Bill , and HOW COOL to be a small part of the race. I hope the race goes through Baltimore or Annapolis next season and the great detectives here at RFF get a heads up before they arrive so I can chase them around all day taking pictures . WOW , that would be sooo exciting. Ya never know , it could happen.

Not going to happen now,because the cats out of the bag.

If it is already planned they wouldn't change it because of that They still start in LA year after year despite the fact that Chateau lives at LAX

Thx Bill , and HOW COOL to be a small part of the race. I hope the race goes through Baltimore or Annapolis next season and the great detectives here at RFF get a heads up before they arrive so I can chase them around all day taking pictures . WOW , that would be sooo exciting. Ya never know , it could happen.

Not going to happen now,because the cats out of the bag.

If it is already planned they wouldn't change it because of that They still start in LA year after year despite the fact that Chateau lives at LAX

Just speculation: I have been wondering if there was anything about Sand Island Beach Park that was supposed to be discovered by the racers before descending. That could explain a difference in their time spent up top, if R&B took longer to figure it out than R&D did.

We don't know; but in the picture number 20 Rachel B. seems to be looking at some place. But maybe she was just watching the landscape.

If it possible to see Sand Island Beach Park from the face of the tower they were doing the climbing - again, watch Rachel B. in picture 20 -, boston_jen could have hit the bull's eye.

They should not have the sand island park clue until they get to the bottom, so doubtful she is looking for the next area.

So, you are thinking something like when they go up in a structure and have to look around to find a marker to the next location. I can only think of one thing to refute that, and that is the 4 square press photo showing D/R reading the clue while Dave is taking off the gloves from the rappel. If the teams knew where they were headed from looking around, why stop to read a clue after the decent? Also, using pic 63/64, the only way these pictures could have been taken is if the photographer was facing south and west from the northern tower, this would mean the teams would be ascending the east side of the southern building, and would be unable to see Sand Island until they were on the top. Chances are she was looking at Diamond Head, which would be an awesome view from there.

That's why I used the "if" and the "could".So it's probable that, as I said in my reply after boston_jen post "she was just watching the landscape"

It is probably moot by now, as the show has already aired in the east coast, but the teams went up the east side of the building and could not see Sand Island until they got to the top. The first team and third team repelled down the south side of the building so I did not get shots of them, only the second team went down the north side of the building. I didn't happen to get any shots of sand island that day other than the part you can see in the rainbow photo.

As far as I could tell they were all given enveloped to ready before the ascent.

It is probably moot by now, as the show has already aired in the east coast, but the teams went up the east side of the building and could not see Sand Island until they got to the top. The first team and third team repelled down the south side of the building so I did not get shots of them, only the second team went down the north side of the building. I didn't happen to get any shots of sand island that day other than the part you can see in the rainbow photo.

As far as I could tell they were all given enveloped to ready before the ascent.